More foreigners want to work in Phl – DOLE

MANILA, Philippines - More foreigners are interested to work in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said they have been receiving inquiries concerning the issuance of alien employment permits (AEPs).

“From May to June this year, the DOLE call center received 4,380 calls and 30 percent of those involved inquiries about AEPs,” she said.

Baldoz attributed the surge in inquiries to the recent amendments undertaken by DOLE to the rules governing the admission of foreign workers into the country.

Under the new policy, AEP application fee is P8,000 with a validity of one year, and a premium of P3,000 for every additional year.

Foreigners may access the DOLE website to secure AEP for a courier fee of P200. Any change of information or entries in the application shall be subject to payment of P750 for AEP replacement.

DOLE is mandated to publish all applications for new AEP in a major newspaper and any objections against the employment of the foreign national may be filed within 30 days after publication.

“If there is no objection, the new AEP will be processed within 24 hours,” Baldoz said.

DOLE earlier reported that many Koreans and other foreigners are coming to the country to work.

Data from the DOLE’s Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics showed that in 2009, DOLE issued a total of 12,218 AEPs to foreign workers from 5,576 AEPs issued in 2000.

The number of Koreans working here increased four times since 2000, labor officials said.

Baldoz said foreigners with no valid AEP and an employer who will be found employing a foreign national without AEP shall be fined P10,000.